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Letters to the editor

Gus Nicholson

I’m sure we all feel, especially around this time of year, a little tax relief would be fine. But don’t try to sell it as stimulating the economy. History shows its effects are short-term at best. The economic numbers are looking good because the president has already shown that he will not tolerate anyone or anything that doesn’t give him and his administration what they want, even if it isn’t true. Yes, I’m implying my government has a credibility gap that’s growing faster than the deficit.

I’m also sure none of us wants to abandon Iraq now that we’ve invested the blood of our soldiers in its earth. I’m also sure the president and his advisers genuinely feel they are really guiding our economy out of the doldrums. And I’m equally sure he believes tapping our own natural resources will take the air out of the prices of foreign-bought resources. But I just can’t help thinking that if his ol’ man didn’t have a clue about “the vision thing,” then how can his kid figure it out when he’s not as smart as the ol’ man?

So we tap a few new wells, put a few more bucks in his friends’ pockets. Maybe that’ll trickle down to us somehow. What happens when ours runs out and we haven’t got an alternative energy strategy in place? Do we stimulate the economy by financing the cleanup?Aren’t we about where we were, say, in 1973?



The Bushes may not have a thing for the vision thing, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. I think that’s about the most important thing a president needs. And if he hasn’t got it, he or she hasn’t got what it takes, as far as I’m concerned. Four more years for this guy is way too much. Regime change starts at home.

Gus Nicholson

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Project Victory

For the past eight years, Vail Resorts has sponsored a program called Project Victory. Each ski season, 15 “at risk” youngsters from Denver spend two Sundays a month with us. We are very grateful to VR for giving these children an opportunity to get away from the turmoil of their every day lives. “At risk” does not mean the kids are bad or in trouble. Rather, it means they live in an “at risk” environment, and our goal is to help them realize that there are alternatives depending

upon the choices they make. We want to share a letter from one of the youngsters that was sent to Bill Jensen, COO of Vail Resorts. This letter explains more than we ever could, how much Project Victory has meant, and how it has influenced her life:

To Bill Jensen:

My name is Shiloh Colburn, and I have grown up with a program at the Vail Resorts known as Project Victory. I have been an active participant for about six years now.

Being in this program, I have learned many great aspects about life that I will carry with me everywhere. I have learned trust and have gained many companions throughout my time in the program. In middle school, this program was all I had. Skiing was my escape from my life and it made me very happy with myself. It helped me to open my mind. It introduced me up to sports, and helped me to understand myself much better.

I will never forget the people that helped me through what seemed like an agonizing process. The three people that have impacted my life in the program are Gilda Kaplan, Wendy Martin, and Annie Breckheimer, the current coordinator of Project Victory. These people have had a profound impact on me because of their hospitality, desire to teach, willingness to never give up, and most importantly, friendship.

With all of this said, I am regrettably but willing to resign from the program. In my junior year of high school, I have found myself busy with previous priorities and responsibilities. This was a hard decision for me to make, as I have loved this program for what it has taught me. I am so thankful for this program and what I have learned that I want someone else to experience what I have been able to in the past six years. Next year will be my senior year and I am unsure if I will be able to participate because I will have college admissions to take care of as well as sports, scholarships and college visitations.

I only hope that another person will get the benefit of this program as I have. It is only fair for Project Victory to accept someone else into the family and take them under their wing. I just want to say thank you for the lovely opportunity to participate in Project Victory. I will never forget this and will carry the things I have learned with me everywhere I go. Thank you, again, and I hope that another student will have the chance to experience what a great program Project Victory is.

Thank you, Shiloh Colburn

Without the participation of Vail Resorts, Project Victory would not happen, and for that we are very thankful to COO Bill Jensen; Mountain Operations Vice President Brian McCartney; Ski School Director Dee Burns; Adaptive Program Director Ruth DeMuth; and our fantastic instructors, Wendy Hargraves, Kimberly Colfer, and Dave Callahan. Together, we are making a significant difference in the lives of Project Victory youngsters!

Annie Breckheimer

Gilda Kaplan

Thank you, CADS

I am a lifelong skier who skied 60-plus days this year. I am 60 years old and have had six knee operations. About five years ago, I was in so much pain when I skied I was considering giving up the sport out of desperation. I tried CADS. The rest is history.

I am a former marathoner, a serious biker, and I am generally in very good condition. I found the uninformed comments of the anonymous caller in your March 23 edition offensive. I hope no one is dissuaded from trying CADS based on his foolish comments. They have allowed me to return to the bumps and extend my skiing life.

Joel Blenner


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